Home

tzimtzum

Tzimtzum (Hebrew: צמצום) is a central concept in Kabbalah, especially in the system of Lurianic Kabbalah. It describes the divine contraction or withdrawal of the infinite God (Ein Sof) to create space for the formation of the finite world. The idea allows for creation to occur while God remains present, yet concealed.

In Luria’s scheme, the initial act of tzimtzum creates a conceptual space in which creation can take

A key accompanying idea is the breaking of the vessels (shevirat ha-kelim). The vessels intended to contain

The concept has shaped Jewish thought by addressing divine hiddenness, the presence of evil, and human responsibility

place.
The
contraction
is
presented
as
concealment
rather
than
a
literal
withdrawal,
and
some
formulations
describe
a
void
or
hollow
within
the
divine
emanations.
After
tzimtzum,
creation
proceeds
through
the
emanation
of
the
sefirot,
and
the
divine
light
is
meant
to
fill
the
space
in
various
ways.
the
divine
light
shatter
when
overwhelmed
by
its
intensity,
scattering
sparks
that
remain
to
be
gathered
and
repaired.
The
task
of
repairing
these
sparks,
or
tikkun,
becomes
part
of
human
spiritual
and
cosmic
work,
often
linked
to
ethical
and
ritual
improvement
as
well
as
mystical
practice.
within
a
framework
of
divine
immanence.
It
influenced
Hasidic
and
non-Lurianic
Kabbalists
and
has
been
the
subject
of
ongoing
philosophical
and
theological
debate,
with
various
scholars
offering
different
readings
of
the
mechanisms
and
implications
of
tzimtzum.